With the finals approaching, the Shrek team experienced a day of dual celebrations that helped lift the somber mood.
On the eve of the competition, Xiao Wu's spirit power broke through to level forty, a development everyone had expected. What came as a shock, however, was Chen Xuan's announcement. A month ago, he had claimed his spirit power was only at level forty-one, and now he declared that he had reached level fifty. How could anyone accept that?
Advancing from level forty-one to fifty in just over a month was beyond extraordinary—unheard of for any spirit master.
At first, the Shrek members were skeptical. But Chen Xuan dispelled their doubts by measuring his spirit power with a crystal ball, proving he had indeed reached level fifty.
"Chen, I'm impressed. You're the real monster!" Ma Hongjun admitted, bowing his head in admiration.
Everyone accepted the reality, albeit reluctantly. Though they had consumed celestial herbs, their spirit power had never surged so dramatically.
Xiao Wu bit her lip lightly, staring at Chen Xuan with a complex expression. Her mind raced, and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks as she seemed to recall something embarrassing.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned peculiar as she glanced at Dai Mubai and then at Chen Xuan, involuntarily comparing the two. She couldn't understand why she always made such comparisons during moments like these.
Tang San remained silent, grappling with self-doubt. He had consumed three celestial herbs and tempered his body with the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, yet in a year, he had only advanced by seven levels.
He had never accepted Chen Xuan, finding him arrogant, disrespectful, and defiant—a student who clashed with teachers and humiliated them. Yet this very person, whom Tang San looked down upon, had surpassed him by a staggering margin of eight levels.
Tang San gritted his teeth, unable to accept that someone who lacked respect for elders could grow to such heights.
"Excellent! Very good!" Flender finally spoke, breaking out of his astonishment with hearty laughter. He clapped Chen Xuan on the shoulder. "Xiao Chen, from now on, you're the ace of Shrek Academy."
All eyes were on Chen Xuan, and no one noticed Tang San's unusual reaction. Even Dai Mubai, who stood beside him, failed to see it.
With a student reaching the level of Spirit King before graduating, Flender couldn't help but feel elated. It was an accomplishment he could boast about in the future, elevating Shrek Academy's reputation.
Moreover, having a Spirit King on their team brought them one step closer to winning the Spirit Master Tournament. Even the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall—Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan—were only newly advanced Spirit Kings and were older than Chen Xuan.
Liu Erlong was equally stunned. She never expected that the quiet student from the advanced class would surpass her beloved goddaughter in talent.
Chen Xuan, modestly bowing to each person, finally turned to Liu Erlong and said, "Dean Erlong, shall we head out now?"
Liu Erlong nodded, saying nothing further, and pulled a reluctant Xiao Wu along.
With the morning light still fresh, she wanted to find a suitable spirit beast for Xiao Wu as quickly as possible.
Chen Xuan followed them, his pace quickening until he appeared fifty meters ahead, moving at Spirit King speed. Arcs of electricity crackled under his feet, creating a streak of energy as he vanished from sight.
"Aren't you curious about how he advanced so quickly?" Dai Mubai voiced his doubt, eyebrows furrowing.
The rest of the team snapped out of their amazement, realizing how unusual Chen Xuan's rapid advancement was.
"Yeah, Dean, when we joined as substitutes, Chen Xuan was only at level thirty-eight," Tai Long added, implying that Chen Xuan might have used unconventional methods.
Tai Long knew Chen Xuan well after three years together in the advanced class, where he had always seemed ordinary. But since joining Shrek, his growth had been meteoric.
"Don't make baseless accusations, Tai Long. I trust Ah Xuan!" Jiang Zhu snapped, glaring at him.
Tai Long smirked. "'Ah Xuan?' You're calling him so affectionately. I suspected you two had something going on, and now I see it's true!"
"You! Stop spouting nonsense! We're not involved!" Jiang Zhu's face flushed red, clearly embarrassed.
Seeing her reaction, Zhu Zhuqing felt a pang in her heart, as if a needle had pricked her. She didn't know why, but there was a trace of bitterness inside her.
"Enough, stop arguing!" Flender interjected, unable to watch any longer.
Headaches plagued him as arguments broke out—first between Tang San and Chen Xuan, now between these two. None of his students seemed to stay out of trouble.
"No more speculations. We'll ask Xiao Chen when he returns tomorrow. Now, get back to training," Flender commanded sternly, ending the discussion.
The team knew Chen Xuan had taken celestial herbs, so they didn't think the worst of him, though his rapid progress raised questions.
Meanwhile
Outside Spirit City, a vast forest co-managed by the Spirit Hall and various nations stretched out. This spirit beast forest, similar to Sunset Forest, was filled with creatures raised by generations of humans.
Liu Erlong, Xiao Wu, and Chen Xuan entered and exchanged brief words with the knight guards, who let them pass without issue.
The dense forest was rich with greenery, and the afternoon sun filtering through the leaves cast patches of light on the ground, making it stiflingly warm.
Mountains and rivers crossed the land, overgrown with vegetation and ancient pines as thick as barrels, true centuries-old trees.
The trio concealed their energy and ventured deeper, seeking a suitable spirit beast.
It was said that the most powerful beasts here were seventy to eighty thousand years old—none reaching the hundred-thousand-year mark, making it far safer than the Star Dou Forest.
Xiao Wu walked absentmindedly, head lowered in thought.
Liu Erlong, focused on searching for spirit beasts and on high alert, didn't notice Xiao Wu's worried demeanor.
"Stay here and don't wander off. I'm going to check that area," Liu Erlong instructed before vanishing into another part of the forest.
Xiao Wu's eyes brightened as her gloom lifted—this was her chance.
"I see a suitable spirit beast over there. I'll go check," she called, using her teleportation skill to disappear from sight.
In an instant, Chen Xuan was left alone.
"Everyone has their own secrets," he muttered, shaking his head. It seemed that each member of the Seven Devils carried hidden thoughts.
Evaluating himself, Chen Xuan knew his physical and spiritual strength matched that of a Spirit King, capable of handling spirit rings over thirty thousand years old.
"Finding a ten-thousand-year beast isn't easy. I'll wait for them to return," he decided.
Chen Xuan wandered through the forest at a relaxed pace, heading in Xiao Wu's direction.
Thanks to the Flying Thunder God mark he had placed on her, he could sense her location no matter the distance.
Some things needed to be revealed at last.
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